Manufacturing a valve plug to reduce erosion

Abstract

A closure member is configured for use in a valve. These configurations may include a plug with grooves or “flutes” that extend along its length. Inserts in the flutes may comprise materials, like ceramics, that are different than the material that forms the core or base portion of the plug. These inserts are useful to slow erosion of the device, particularly in the flutes, which form an outwardly-facing surface that is subject to high velocity flow in the valve. This feature can extend service life of the plug, particularly in highly-erosive process fluids, like particle-entrained fluids commonly found in hydrocracking or refining operations.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve, comprising:
 a valve body; 
 a moveable plug inside the valve body, the moveable plug having an outer surface with a groove that extends longitudinally; 
 an insert that resides in the groove; and 
 a lock coupled with the plug and in contact with the insert, 
 wherein the lock is configured to prevent the insert from moving in the groove. 
 
     
     
       2. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a material that is different from the material of the moveable plug. 
     
     
       3. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the insert fills a portion of the groove. 
     
     
       4. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the insert fills all of the groove. 
     
     
       5. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a first part and a second part that contact one another at one end. 
     
     
       6. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises ceramic. 
     
     
       7. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises metal alloy and the insert comprises ceramic. 
     
     
       8. The valve of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lock is disposed on an end of the plug and secured in position with a fastener, and 
 wherein the lock generates a load on the insert. 
 
     
     
       9. The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the lock is disposed on an end of the plug and attached with a fastener, and 
 wherein the lock prevents the insert from exiting the plug. 
 
     
     
       10. A valve, comprising:
 a valve body; 
 a closure member moveable in the valve body, the closure member comprising:
 a plug having an outer surface with at least a longitudinal groove formed therein, the longitudinal groove extending from one end of the plug and terminating at a tapered region on the outer surface; and 
 an insert disposed in the groove, 
 
 wherein the insert forms an outwardly facing surface, and 
 wherein the insert comprises a first part and a second part that remove from the groove independent from one another. 
 
     
     
       11. The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the outwardly facing surface comprises material that is more brittle than the plug. 
     
     
       12. The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the outwardly facing surface comprises ceramic. 
     
     
       13. The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the insert resides in the tapered region. 
     
     
       14. The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the outwardly facing surface is tapered. 
     
     
       15. A closure member for a valve, comprising:
 an elongate body with a central axis and an outer surface having a control section that is configured to direct fluid along a path that extends longitudinally on the surface along the central axis, the control section featuring removable parts that separate from the elongate body, at least one of the removeable parts forming a tapered surface; and 
 a lock and a fastener that attaches the lock to the elongate body and prevents the removable parts from separating from the elongate body. 
 
     
     
       16. The closure member of  claim 15 , wherein the removeable parts comprise ceramic and the elongate body comprises metal alloy. 
     
     
       17. The closure member of  claim 15 , wherein the removeable parts are harder than the elongate body. 
     
     
       18. The closure member of  claim 15 , wherein the control section comprises a longitudinal groove in the elongate body, the longitudinal groove configured to receive the removeable parts. 
     
     
       19. The closure member of  claim 15 , wherein the control section comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the elongate body, each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves configured to receive the removeable parts. 
     
     
       20. The closure member of  claim 15 , wherein the control section comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the elongate body, and
 wherein a set of the removeable parts reside in each of the plurality of each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves.